From Arrival to Inclusion: Building Bridges for Refugee Integration

By Nikolaos Vourkas
  • The number of people that can be successfully integrated

    The number of people that can be successfully integrated

    The number of people that can be successfully integrated in the city of Kozani is close to a hundred, as there are integration programs in the city of Kozani.These programs aim at the integration of third -country nationals into the labor market.
  • Accomodation.

    Accomodation.

    In the city of Kozani refugees can be accomodated in the abandoned camp, which is located near the municipal school center. This camp is huge and the refugees will be comfortable there and they will be sleeping in warm rooms with beds at night.
  • The kind of entrepreneuship that can be developed

    The kind of entrepreneuship that can be developed

    The buissnesses primarily serve the refugee's own ethnic community or other diaspora groups. They fill gaps in the local market for specific cultural goods and services. For example, restaurants, cafes and take-aways could offer traditional cuisine (e.g. Syrian, Afghan and African food). In addition, shops selling specialized products, ingridients, clothing, or electronic accessories catering to their local community (e.g. a minimarket run by a refugee selling products from their home country).
  • The way your school can help

    The way your school can help

    My school can play a crucial role in supporting and intergating refugees by focusing on three main areas: Education and Language, Inclusion and Psychosocial Support, and Community Engagement. In Greece, the Ministry of Education, supported by organizations like UNICEF and UNHCR, promotes the full inclusion of refugee children into the public school system.
  • The potential benefits for local community

    The potential benefits for local community

    The successful and supported integration of refygees into the local community brings significant benefits in three key areas: Economy, Demografics/Labor Market, and Society/Culture.Refugees, who are predominatly of working age, enter the labor force, often covering significant shortages in sectors such as agriculture, tourism, manufacturing, construction, and even specialized technological fields. Last but not least refugees pay taxes and social security contributions, boosting state coffers.